The emotional roller coaster of the freelance photographer

Working as a full-time photographer, one of the things that is the hardest for me to manage is the perpetual emotional roller coaster. For example, it’s so easy to get really excited by a new opportunity, only to be disappointed when it falls through.

You see, when things are going well, when I get a big commission, I start feeling like I am on the top of the world. And then the following day or week, if something doesn’t work out, it feels like it’s the end of the world. It’s so easy to get sucked in that cycle, yet it is draining.

On a larger scale, last year was a really good year for me. It was my second year of shooting full-time and it blew past all my expectations. I came out really happy and with a good momentum. Then I hit some personal issues at the end of the year and my winter didn’t work out quite as I had hoped. I had a lot of disappointment during the first half of this year. I started to realize it wouldn’t be as easy as I thought to keep the momentum and keep growing. It was discouraging and I lost some of my motivation and focus.

After a while, I managed to get back on track and start working on long-term goals again. It took a few months, but I’m starting to see the results pay off. It was a stressful time, and I didn’t manage it so well. I should have kept working the long game. Patience and perseverance are key.

I still have a hard time with the emotional ups and downs. One way I try to alleviate the issue is to avoid getting too excited by new opportunities. Until a contract is signed, I try to act as if it wasn’t happening. My goal is to get a little less excited and lot less disappointed.

What about you? How do you manage this emotional roller coaster? (I could use some tips 😉 )

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I am a commercial architecture photographer living in Toronto. When I am not photographing commercial interiors and exteriors for my clients, I like to travel the world to photograph fine art cityscapes and architecture.